Automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus

ABSTRACT

An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus includes a paper holder which holds a roll of toilet paper and which has a paper sending section that sends out the toilet paper, a paper receiving tray provided close to the paper sending section of the paper holder, and a paper sending mechanism which sends out a given length of the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray in response to a user&#39;s instruction. The paper sending mechanism includes a motor which rotates for a given period of time and then stops rotating in response to a user&#39;s instruction, a sending roller which is rotated by the motor to send out the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray, and a mechanism for automatically cutting a sending end portion of the toilet paper when the sending roller stops as the motor stops.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-261661, filed Sep. 6, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus that is favorably used as welfare equipment for the physically handicapped and the like.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In general, most public facilities and decentsized buildings are fully equipped with rest rooms for the physically handicapped. These rest rooms have improved barrier-free facilities such as a facility for opening/closing a door by a button operation and a facility for guiding a user such as a handrail. As for the feeding of toilet paper, however, a conventional toilet paper feeding apparatus is still used in most cases. Equipment for automatically adding a roll of toilet paper has conventionally been known as disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 6-7263. However, now, there are no equipment for automatically rewinding toilet paper and then sending it out by a required length.

[0006] In the conventional toilet paper feeding apparatus, a user has to tear off a length of toilet paper by himself or herself. For the physically handicapped such as a person who is paralyzed on one side and a person who is wounded in the hand, therefore, it is not easy to tear off a given length of toilet paper even though the paper is perforated such that it can easily be cut. The user therefore finds it very inconvenient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus that is capable of automatically feeding a given length of a roll of toilet paper by performing a very simple operation.

[0008] In order to attain the above object, the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the present invention has the following characteristic configuration. The other characteristic configurations will be clarified in the Detailed Description of the Invention.

[0009] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention, comprises a paper holder which holds a roll of toilet paper such that a roll axis becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section that sends out the toilet paper, a paper receiving tray provided close to the paper sending section of the paper holder, and a paper sending mechanism which sends out a given length of the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray in response to a user's instruction,

[0010] the paper sending mechanism including a motor which rotates for a given period of time and then stops rotating in response to a user's instruction, a sending roller which is rotated by the motor to send out the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray, and means for automatically cutting a sending end portion of the toilet paper when the sending roller stops as the motor stops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0011]FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along line 1B-1B of FIG. 1A.

[0013]FIG. 2A is a cutaway front view of a paper sending mechanism of the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the front of a case is cut away.

[0014]FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line 2B-2B of FIG. 2A.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a driving controller in the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an operation of the driving controller in the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations for describing the operation of the driving controller in the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIGS. 6A to 6F are schematic views showing a process of using the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 7A is a schematic front view of an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line 7B-7B of FIG. 7A.

[0021]FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrations for describing the operation of a driving controller in the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] (First Embodiment)

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a paper holder 11. The paper holder 11 holds a roll of toilet paper 1 in such a manner that its roll axis 1X becomes horizontal, and includes a paper sending section 11 a for sending out the paper 1. The top surface of the paper holder 11 serves as a roll holding section 14 having an arched inner surface. The roll holding section 14 can freely be opened and closed with a top cover 12 whose distal end 12 b is hinged on a hinge section H. The front portion 12 a of the top cover 12 is a relatively thick block and its undersurface is a pressing flat surface. This pressing flat surface presses a sending portion 1 a of the toilet paper 1 on the top surfaces of sending rollers, as will be described later. The front of the top cover 12 is provided with a start switch 15.

[0024] A paper receiving tray 13 for receiving the paper 1 is provided outside the paper holder 11 and in front of the paper sending section 11 a. A paper sending mechanism 100 for sending out the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13 by a given length in response to a user's instruction is provided in a region under the paper sending section 11 a.

[0025] The paper sending mechanism 100 includes a driving controller 110, which will be described later, first and second motors 121 and 122 that are controlled by the driving controller 110, and first and second sending rollers 141 and 142 that are rotated by the first and second motors 121 and 122, respectively to send out the roll of toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first and second motors 121 and 122 are attached to their respective motor brackets 151 and 152 that are each formed of an L-shaped member. The motor brackets 151 and 152 are fixed on the bottom 102 of a case 101 by fixing pins 161 and 162 each having a spring washer. The terminals 121 a and 121 b (neither of which is shown) of the first motor 121 and the terminals 122 a and 122 b of the second motor 122 are all connected to the driving controller 110.

[0027] A rotating-force transfer roller 131 is fitted on the shaft 121 c of the first motor 121. The roller 131 is pressed on the outer surface of the first sending roller 141 from below.

[0028] A rotating-force transfer roller 132 is fitted on the shaft 122 c of the second motor 122. The roller 132 is pressed on the outer surface of the second sending roller 142 from below.

[0029] The first and second motors 121 and 122 transfer their rotating forces to the first and second sending rollers 141 and 142 through the rotating-force transfer rollers 131 and 132, respectively, with the result that the first and second sending rollers 141 and 142 are rotated. The rollers 131, 132, 141 and 142 have very small irregularities on their surfaces to increase frictional resistance. The first and second sending rollers 141 and 142 are arranged adjacent to each other in the sending direction such that they can send the roll of toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13.

[0030]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the driving controller 110. The driving controller 110 is formed chiefly of a timer 113. The timer 113 includes first and second timer circuits 111 and 112 that are capable of freely varying the set time. The timer 113 is connected to a power supply 114 via the start switch 15. The timer 113 has a self-holding contact TC3 and a self-releasing contact TC4. The first timer circuit 111 includes a first timer contact TC1. The second timer circuit 112 includes a second timer contact TC2.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, the first timer contact TC1 sends an output from t1 when the start switch 15 turns on to first time t3. The second timer contact TC2 sends an output from t1 when the start switch 15 turns on to second time t4 that is later than the first time t3 by a given period of time.

[0032] The first motor 121 rotates in response to the output of the first timer circuit 111 and the second motor 122 rotates in response to the output of the second timer circuit 112.

[0033] The driving controller 110 so configured performs the following operation. Referring to FIG. 4, when the start switch 15 turns on at time t1, the timer 13 is supplied with power from the power supply 114. Thus, the timer 113 is actuated and self-held by the self-holding contact TC3 at time t2. Since the first and second timer contacts TC1 and TC2 are closed at time t2, the first and second motors 121 and 122 start to rotate. Accordingly, both the first and second sending rollers 141 and 142 rotate in the same direction as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5A. Thus, the toilet paper 1 is sent out in the direction of the paper receiving tray 13 as indicated by arrows X and Y in FIG. 5A (to the left in FIG. 5A). When the first timer contact TC1 turns off at time t3, the first motor 121 stops rotating, whereas the second motor 122 continues rotating. Therefore, when the first sending roller. 141 stops rotating, only the second sending roller 142 continues rotating as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5B.

[0034] Though not shown, a sending portion 1 a of the toilet paper 1 is pressed downward by the pressing flat surface of the front portion 12 a of the top cover 12 and brought into contact with the outer surfaces of the first and second sending rollers 141 and 142. Thus, the tensile strength is exerted on the sending end portion 1 b of the toilet paper 1 in its longitudinal direction, and the portion 1 b is automatically cut off. If the second timer contact TC2 turns off at time t4 that is later than time t3 by a given time period TS of about one second, the second motor 122 stops rotating. Consequently, the toilet paper 1 whose sending end portion 1 b has been cut off is sent out to the paper receiving tray 13, as shown separately by arrow Z and circle S. If the self-releasing contact TC4 turns off instantaneously at time t5, the timer 113 is disconnected from the power supply 114 and thus returned to the initial state.

[0035]FIGS. 6A to 6F illustrate a process of using the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus 10.

[0036] First, a user puts a roll of toilet paper 1 in the roll holding section 14 as indicated by arrow P in FIG. 6A. Then, the user pulls out the leading edge of the toilet paper 1 and puts its sending portion 1 a on the sending rollers 141 and 142 as shown in FIG. 6B. After that, the user closes the top cover 12 as shown in FIG. 6C. The apparatus is therefore completely set.

[0037] If the user turns on the start switch 15, the toilet paper 1 is sent out to the paper receiving tray 13 as illustrated in FIG. 6D. When a given length of toilet paper 1 is sent out and the timer 113 reaches the set time, the sending end portion 1 b of the toilet paper 1 is automatically torn off according to a difference in the timing of stop of rotation between the first and second rollers 121 and 122, as shown in FIG. 6E. Thus, a given length of toilet paper is folded and supplied onto the paper receiving tray 13 as available paper 2, as shown in FIG. 6F. If the supplied available paper 2 is not sufficient for the user, he or she has only to turn on the start switch 15 again.

[0038] (Second Embodiment)

[0039]FIG. 7A is a schematic front view of an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus. The automatic toilet supply apparatus of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that it comprises a start switch 15A which turns on and a stop switch 15B which turns off in response to a user's instruction, first and second motors 121 and 122 which start rotating when the start switch 15A turns on and which stop rotating when the stop switch 15B turns off, and a cutter 170 which is actuated to cut the sending end portion 1 a of the toilet paper 1 when the stop switch 15B turns off. The cutter 170 is so configured that its edge portion 172 can be moved up and down by an electromagnetic solenoid 171.

[0040] According to the second embodiment, when the start switch 15A is turned on, the first and second motors 121 and 122 start rotating as shown in FIG. 8A and both the first and second sending rollers 141 and 142 rotate in the same direction as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8A. Therefore, the toilet paper 1 is sent out to the paper receiving tray 13 as indicated by arrows X and Y. When the stop switch 15B is turned off with any given timing, the cutter 170 is actuated and the sending end portion 1 a of the toilet paper 1 is cut off as illustrated in FIG. 8B. Almost simultaneously with this, the first and second motors 121 and 122 are disconnected from the power supply 114. Thus, the first and second motors 121 and 122 continue rotating by their inertia and then stop rotating. Consequently, a given length of toilet paper 1 whose sending end portion 1 b is cut off is sent out to the paper receiving tray 13, as shown separately by arrow Z and circle S. The apparatus is then returned to the initial state.

[0041] (Features of the Embodiments)

[0042] [1] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:

[0043] a paper holder 11 which holds a roll of toilet paper 1 such that a roll axis 1X becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section 11 a that sends out the toilet paper 1;

[0044] a paper receiving tray 13 provided close to the paper sending section 11 a of the paper holder 11; and

[0045] a paper sending mechanism 100 which sends out a given length of the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13 in response to a user's instruction,

[0046] the paper sending mechanism 100 including:

[0047] a motor (121, 122) which rotates for a given period of time and then stops rotating in response to a user's instruction;

[0048] a sending roller (141, 142) which is rotated by the motor (121, 122) to send out the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13; and

[0049] means for automatically cutting a sending end portion 1 b of the toilet paper 1 when the sending roller (141, 142) stops as the motor (121, 122) stops.

[0050] In the automatic toilet paper sending apparatus 10 described above, if a user has only to touch the start switch 15, a roll of toilet paper 1 is automatically sent out by a given length and its sending end portion 1 b is automatically torn off at user's request. Thus, the user can easily obtain the given length of toilet paper 1 even though he or she has trouble with his or her hand.

[0051] [2] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:

[0052] a paper holder 11 which holds a roll of toilet paper 1 such that a roll axis 1X becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section 11 a that sends out the toilet paper 1;

[0053] a paper receiving tray 13 provided close to the paper sending section 11 a of the paper holder 11; and

[0054] a paper sending mechanism 100 which sends out a given length of the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13 in response to a user's instruction,

[0055] the paper sending mechanism 100 including:

[0056] first and second motors 121 and 122 which rotate for a given period of time and then stop rotating in response to a user's instruction;

[0057] first and second sending rollers 141 and 142 which are rotated by the first and second motors 121 and 122 and which are arranged adjacent to each other in a sending direction to send out the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13; and

[0058] means for automatically cutting a sending end portion 1 b of the toilet paper 1 by stopping rotation of the second sending roller 142 after the first sending roller 141 stops rotating.

[0059] [3] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:

[0060] a paper holder 11 which holds a roll of toilet paper 1 such that a roll axis 1X becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section 11 a that sends out the toilet paper 1;

[0061] a paper receiving tray 13 provided close to the paper sending section 11 a of the paper holder 11; and

[0062] a paper sending mechanism 100 which sends out a given length of the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13 in response to a user's instruction,

[0063] the paper sending mechanism 100 including:

[0064] a start switch 15 which turns on in response to a user's instruction;

[0065] a first timer circuit 111 which sends an output from time t1 when the start switch 15 turns on to first time t3;

[0066] a first motor 121 which rotates by the output of the first timer circuit 111;

[0067] a second timer circuit 112 which sends an output from time t1 when the start switch 15 turns on to second time t4 that is later than the first time t3 by a given period of time;

[0068] a second motor 122 which rotates by the output of the second timer circuit 122; and

[0069] first and second sending rollers 141 and 142 which are rotated by the first and second motors 111 and 112 and which are arranged adjacent to each other in a sending direction to send out the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13.

[0070] [4] The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus 10 according to one of the above items [1], [2] and [3], further comprises means (e.g., a top cover 12) for pressing a sending portion 1 a of the toilet paper 1 on a top surface of each of the sending rollers 141 and 142.

[0071] [5] The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus 10 according to the above items [1] to [4], further comprises a cutter 170 which is actuated to cut a sending end portion 1 a of the toilet paper 1 when the sending roller (141, 142) stops.

[0072] [6] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:

[0073] a paper holder 11 which holds a roll of toilet paper 1 such that a roll axis 1X becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section 11 a that sends out the toilet paper 1;

[0074] a paper receiving tray 13 provided close to the paper sending section 11 a of the paper holder 11; and.

[0075] a paper sending mechanism 100 which sends out a given length of the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13 in response to a user's instruction, the paper sending mechanism 100 including:

[0076] a start switch 15A which turns on and a stop switch 15B which turns off in response to a user's instruction;

[0077] a motor (121, 122) which starts rotating when the start switch 15A turns on and which stops rotating when the stop switch 15B turns off;

[0078] a sending roller (141, 142) which is rotated by the motor (121, 122) and which sends out the toilet paper 1 to the paper receiving tray 13; and

[0079] a cutter 170 which is actuated to cut a sending end portion 1 b of the toilet paper 1 when the stop switch 15B turns off.

[0080] (Modifications)

[0081] The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention can be modified as follows:

[0082] A pair of pressure rollers can be formed in contact with the tops of the sending rollers 141 and 142. The pressure rollers press the sending portion 1 a of the toilet paper 1 on the sending rollers 141 and 142.

[0083] The second motor 122 can be provided with a current falling delay circuit. When the stop switch 15B turns off, the second motor 122 stops rotating slightly after the first motor 121 does.

[0084] An infrared proximity sensor can be used as the start switch 15. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus comprising: a paper holder which holds a roll of toilet paper such that a roll axis becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section that sends out the toilet paper; a paper receiving tray provided close to the paper sending section of the paper holder; and a paper sending mechanism which sends out a given length of the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray in response to a user's instruction, the paper sending mechanism including: a motor which rotates for a given period of time and then stops rotating in response to a user's instruction; a sending roller which is rotated by the motor to send out the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray; and means for automatically cutting a sending end portion of the toilet paper when the sending roller stops as the motor stops.
 2. An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus comprising: a paper holder which holds a roll of toilet paper such that a roll axis becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section that sends out the toilet paper; a paper receiving tray provided close to the paper sending section of the paper holder; and a paper sending mechanism which sends out a given length of the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray in response to a user's instruction, the paper sending mechanism including: first and second motors which rotate for a given period of time and then stop rotating in response to a user's instruction; first and second sending rollers which are rotated by the first and second motors and which are arranged adjacent to each other in a sending direction to send out the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray; and means for automatically cutting a sending end portion of the toilet paper by stopping rotation of the second sending roller after the first sending roller stops rotating.
 3. An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus comprising: a paper holder which holds a roll of toilet paper such that a roll axis becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section that sends out the toilet paper; a paper receiving tray provided close to the paper sending section of the paper holder; and a paper sending mechanism which sends out a given length of the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray in response to a user's instruction, the paper sending mechanism including: a start switch which turns on in response to a user's instruction; a first timer circuit which sends an output from time when the start switch turns on to first time; a first motor which rotates by the output of the first timer circuit; a second timer circuit which sends an output from time when the start switch turns on to second time that is later than the first time by a given period of time; a second motor which rotates by the output of the second timer circuit; and first and second sending rollers which are rotated by the first and second motors and which are arranged adjacent to each other in a sending direction to send out the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray.
 4. The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for pressing a sending portion of the toilet paper on a top surface of the sending roller.
 5. The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for pressing a sending portion of the toilet paper on a top surface of each of the first and second sending rollers.
 6. The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for pressing a sending portion of the toilet paper on a top surface of each of the first and second sending rollers.
 7. The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutter which is actuated to cut a sending end portion of the toilet paper when the sending roller stops.
 8. The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a cutter which is actuated to cut a sending end portion of the toilet paper when the first and second sending rollers stop.
 9. The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a cutter which is actuated to cut a sending end portion of the toilet paper when the first and second sending rollers stop.
 10. An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus comprising: a paper holder which holds a roll of toilet paper such that a roll axis becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section that sends out the toilet paper; a paper receiving tray provided close to the paper sending section of the paper holder; and a paper sending mechanism which sends out a given length of the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray in response to a user's instruction, the paper sending mechanism including: a start switch which turns on and a stop switch which turns off in response to a user's instruction; a motor which starts rotating when the start switch turns on and which stops rotating when the stop switch turns off; a sending roller which is rotated by the motor and which sends out the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray; and a cutter which is actuated to cut a sending end portion of the toilet paper when the stop switch turns off. 